Queensland unclaimed money: prepare for 31 October

Queensland Public Trustee’s reminder, published by the REIQ on 18 August, identifies 31 October 2026 as the annual lodgement deadline for eligible unclaimed money for 2025–26.

For agency leaders, the useful next step is to give the review a clear owner and enough time. That includes checking whether there is anything to lodge, establishing which rules apply and resolving questions before the deadline arrives.

An old balance is a starting point for investigation. It does not establish, by itself, that money is unclaimed or ready to transfer.

Start with the funds and the applicable rules

The REIQ-hosted reminder explains that unclaimed money is money owed to someone who cannot be located so it can be returned. The annual process concerns money remaining unclaimed at 30 June that has reached the relevant holding period, after reasonable efforts to find and repay the owner.

The holding period matters. QPT’s lodgement guidance distinguishes real-estate-agent trust money from general-business holdings and other categories. Do not apply the reminder’s “typically two years” summary to every balance.

There can also be separate trust-law reporting requirements. Section 33 of the Trust Accounts Act 1973 sets out a distinct return process for certain property held for beneficiaries who cannot be identified or located, with an April assessment and June return timing. The October campaign should not be treated as replacing that process.

Have the person responsible for the review confirm the applicable category, holding period and reporting route with the agency’s auditor or QPT. If the facts or guidance are unclear, record the question and obtain an answer before deciding what belongs in a lodgement.

Give the review a useful working record

Bring the information together in a restricted review file. For each potential item, record:

• the account and ledger reference

• the amount and how it arose

• the person believed to be entitled to it

• the relevant dates and supporting documents

• contact attempts and their outcomes

• the rule or advice relied on for the proposed treatment

• who is responsible for the next step.

Ask the reviewer to distinguish an unlocated owner from an unresolved reconciliation, disputed entitlement or incomplete record. Give each exception a named person and a date to check progress. That makes it easier to obtain the right advice without repeatedly rebuilding the history.

This is also a useful place for a second-person review. Someone unfamiliar with the original transaction should be able to follow how the agency reached its decision.

Make contact attempts traceable

Review the contact information already lawfully held and document reasonable attempts to return the money. Record the date, contact method and outcome, rather than a general note that someone was “chased”.

If a person responds, confirm their identity and entitlement through the agency’s established process before arranging repayment. A new email address or bank account needs the usual verification. The approaching deadline is a reason to organise the work early, not to skip checks.

Keep personal information available only to those who need it for the review and any authorised lodgement. A broad team reminder can describe the task without circulating individual client details.

Keep rental bonds out of this lodgement

QPT expressly excludes Residential Tenancies Authority bond money from this process. Keep rental-bond enquiries on the appropriate RTA pathway and check unusual or mixed items before including them.

That distinction deserves a specific check in the review. A familiar account label or the word “deposit” does not tell the team which rules apply.

Leave time for both lodgement steps

QPT describes a two-stage online process: submit the required details in its file format, then follow the transfer instructions it sends after reviewing the file. Use its current template and validation guidance, and track the file review and payment as separate steps.

The published deadline falls on Saturday 31 October. As an internal planning target, aim to finish the work before Friday 30 October, leaving time for questions and processing. Do not assume a weekend extension.

Before closing the task, reconcile what was submitted with what was transferred and retain the confirmation. If the review finds no eligible funds, keep a dated record of that conclusion and the basis for it.

The same practical principle sits behind Delegate’s approach to agency workflows: clear responsibility, supporting information and a visible next step. Here, that helps the team complete a careful review without turning a late-October reminder into a last-minute scramble.

Queensland sources checked on 15 October 2026 (Brisbane). General information, not advice on an individual balance. Confirm the applicable law, holding period and lodgement requirements with QPT or your professional adviser.